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TOKYO — Following final yr’s historic New 12 months’s Eve co-promotion, BELLATOR MMA and RIZIN Combating Federation will convey one other industry-altering, star-studded occasion to combat followers in Japan on Sunday, July 30. Headlining the occasion, which departs from the head-to-head format of final yr’s iteration of the crossover card, can be a BELLATOR Light-weight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal matchup between former Featherweight World Champion AJ McKee (20-1) and ex-Light-weight World Champion Patricky Pitbull (24-11).
Along with the extremely anticipated conflict between McKee and the second of his Pitbull household foes, former BELLATOR and RIZIN champion Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) will return to combat on house soil when he fights for the inaugural BELLATOR Flyweight World Championship towards Makoto “Shinryu” Takahashi (16-1-1), who enters the bout on a blazing scorching, ten-fight successful streak.
Plus, Japan’s personal Kana Watanabe (11-2-1) places her No. 3 flyweight rating on the road former title challenger Veta Arteaga (7-5), who ranks No. 7.
Followers in attendance on the historic Saitama Tremendous Enviornment will get to look at each parts of the occasion with the BELLATOR fights going down within the cage with the long-lasting purple and blue BELLATOR gloves, plus white gloves for the World Grand Prix rivals. The BELLATOR contests can be adhere to the Unified Guidelines of MMA.
The RIZIN FF fights can be going down of their regular ring, and BELLATOR stars Juan Archuleta (28-4) and Tofiq Musayev (20-5) are scheduled to compete in the course of the RIZIN portion of the occasion.
Broadcast particulars and ticket info can be introduced at a later date.
McKee, 28, is without doubt one of the most distinguished faces of BELLATOR MMA, having competed below the promotion’s banner for everything of his spectacular skilled profession. McKee reached the head of the game in 2021 when he dethroned rival Patricio Pitbull, the brother of upcoming opponent Patricky, within the finale of the $1,000,000 Featherweight World Grand Prix to turn out to be the Featherweight World Champion. After their rematch, McKee moved north to the light-weight division, the place he has confirmed his worthiness of the promotion’s No. 5 pound-for-pound standing, besting Spike Carlyle and RIZIN champion Roberto Satoshi — the latter in the principle occasion final yr’s BELLATOR vs. RIZIN card — on his path to the Grand Prix. At BELLATOR X RIZIN 2, McKee will look to advance to a semifinal matchup towards Alexander Shabliy by including one other Pitbull to his prolonged checklist of victories.
In search of to place an finish to the McKee saga in emphatic vogue for his household is former light-weight title holder Patricky Pitbull. BELLATOR’s all-time knockout chief, Pitbull is understood all through the game as a fearsome striker with harmful punching energy. Whereas he got here up brief towards the prodigious Usman Nurmagomedov in his final outing, the sting of shedding his title has solely strengthened the starvation Pitbull has to reclaim the championship gold he wore throughout his waist. Armed with the data of two outings towards McKee fought by brother Patricio, Pitbull hopes to dispatch of the American in entrance of an adoring Japanese crowd this July 30.
Regardless of combating at flyweight for a lot of his skilled profession, Japan’s Kyoji Horiguchi dominated the bantamweight division in each BELLATOR and RIZIN, changing into champion on the energy of his clever karate-based fashion and well-honed combat IQ. Nonetheless, the will to combat at 125 kilos has remained for the American High Staff-trained fighter, who has received two straight fights in dominant vogue — together with a choice over Hiromasa Ougikubo on final yr’s BELLATOR vs. RIZIN occasion. On July 30, Horiguchi will compete for the inaugural BELLATOR Flyweight World Championship as he ushers in a brand new division for the promotion, one positive to bolster the general expertise of the BELLATOR roster.
“Shinryu” will make his second look for the BELLATOR model when he challenges Horiguchi on this championship bout. Initially from Miyagi, Japan, “Shinryu” has turn out to be a fan favourite in Japan over his spectacular, younger profession. At simply 22-years-old, He’s already secured championships from DEEP and CFFC and now hopes so as to add BELLATOR gold to his rising trophy room.
BELLATOR / Rizin 2: McKee vs. Pitbull Battle Card:
Light-weight World Grand Prix Quarterfinals: #5-AJ McKee (20-1) vs. #2-Patricky Pitbull (24-11)
Inaugural Flyweight World Championship: Kyoji Horiguchi (16-9) vs. Makoto “Shinryu” (16-1-1)
Ladies’s Flyweight Bout: #3-Kana Watanabe (11-2-1) vs. #7-Veta Arteaga (7-5)
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and in addition a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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